Author Login IJIRT Partner Network (IPN) Login

Seismic Vulnerability of Pile-Supported Systems in Liquefiable Soils: Mechanisms and Design Implications

  • Unique Paper ID: 178544
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 12
  • PageNo: 5232-5235
  • Abstract:
  • Despite advancements in engineering, structural collapse or significant damage in pile-supported systems continues to occur in liquefiable soils following major earthquakes. The underperformance of pile foundations remains a critical issue for both earthquake and geotechnical engineers. This thesis presents a comparative analysis of how liquefaction impacts the design of pile foundations. Traditionally, pile failure has been explained through a flexural mechanism, where lateral forces—arising from seismic inertia or ground spreading—cause bending and ultimately failure in the pile. This approach, treating piles as laterally loaded beams, has been extensively studied. However, a newer perspective considers buckling instability, viewing piles as slender, laterally unsupported columns that may buckle in liquefied soil conditions. The aim of this research is to explore the practical design consequences stemming from both the flexural and buckling theories. It also evaluates international design guidelines, including Eurocode 8 – Part I (1997), in the context of pile foundation design. The outcomes of this study are intended to guide practical foundation design in seismic areas and assist professionals dealing with the seismic assessment or design of pile foundations in liquefiable ground conditions. The opening section introduces fundamental concepts of pile foundations, including their types, grouping methods, and their behaviour under seismic loading conditions. It also explores different failure mechanisms observed in individual piles and grouped pile systems during earthquakes. The next part provides a detailed literature review, summarizing previous research in the field and analysing the relevant design codes and standards currently used in pile foundation engineering. Following that, the study elaborates on the adopted design methodology. It includes static design procedures, pile design based on Cone Penetration Test (CPT) data, and considerations for inertial forces, kinematic interactions, and liquefaction potential assessment. Subsequently, a comprehensive design example is presented, featuring result comparisons, graphical representations, and calculation of critical pile design parameters to validate the methodology. Finally, the study concludes with a summary of key findings, a structured design workflow, and recommendations for future research to enhance pile foundation design in seismic and liquefiable soil conditions.
Download article email to a friend

Cite This Article

  • ISSN: 2349-6002
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 12
  • PageNo: 5232-5235

Seismic Vulnerability of Pile-Supported Systems in Liquefiable Soils: Mechanisms and Design Implications

Related Articles

15 May, 2025

Mechanisms and Design Implications of Pile-Supported Systems Seismic Vulnerability in Liquifiable Soils

Read More
Impact Factor
8.01 (Year 2024)
UGC Approved
Journal no 47859

Join Our IPN

IJIRT Partner Network

Submit your research paper and those of your network (friends, colleagues, or peers) through your IPN account, and receive 800 INR for each paper that gets published.

Join Now

Latest Publication

Archive

View More

Recent Conferences

NCSEM 2024

National Conference on Sustainable Engineering and Management - 2024 Last Date: 15th March 2024

Submit inquiry